St. Marys mobility service keeps residents connected and independent

St. Marys & Area Mobility Service has a fleet of five accessible vehicles and even more volunteer drivers to help local residents who are 55 and older or who require accessible transportation to get where they’re going.

By Galen Simmons

For many residents in St. Marys and the surrounding area, access to safe and reliable transportation can mean the difference between staying connected to the community and becoming isolated at home.

That is where St. Marys & Area Mobility Service comes in.

The independent, non-profit organization provides accessible and volunteer transportation for older adults, people living with disabilities, those recovering from illness or injury and residents who need additional support getting to appointments, shopping, social activities and other important destinations.

“We are the transportation from health care to community,” said mobility service manager Amber Miners. “Especially in our rural areas, it’s not just a convenience; it’s certainly a lifeline for some folks.”

The service supports eligible residents in St. Marys, Perth South and parts of Zorra Township and Thames Centre. Clients must be 55 or older, require accessible transportation, be recovering from an injury or illness, be living with a disability, or receive transportation support through a third-party or government program.

While the organization is known for its accessible vehicles, Miners said clients do not need to use a wheelchair or mobility device to qualify. Some riders are still able to walk independently but no longer drive long distances, do not have access to a licence or vehicle, or need help reaching appointments outside the community.

“Some people still maintain their licence and drive in town, but going to Victoria Hospital in London can be daunting,” Miners said. “It’s not just about the ride. It’s about taking away one more thing they have to worry about.”

The mobility service offers door-to-door transportation, meaning drivers help ensure clients make it safely from their homes to their destination.

“We take pride in getting the person to the door and in with somebody so that we know they are going to be looked after,” Miners said.

That personal connection is an important part of the service.

With five vehicles in its fleet, including accessible buses and vans, as well as a hybrid Ford Explorer donated by Perth South for ambulatory rides, the mobility service provides thousands of trips each year. According to Miners, the service’s vehicles complete roughly 7,000 rides annually, while volunteer drivers provide approximately 2,000 additional trips using their own vehicles.

In some of the busiest months, the organization provides more than 600 vehicle rides and more than 200 volunteer rides.

Those trips include medical appointments, dialysis, adult day programs, shopping, errands, social visits and community activities. The service also offers group charters and weekly shopping shuttles, and it works with long-term-care homes, the Friendship Centre and other community partners to help residents take part in outings they might otherwise miss.

For residents in nursing care, retirement living or their own homes, the service provides more than transportation. It provides familiarity, dignity and peace of mind.

Drivers and volunteers often get to know regular clients well, especially those travelling several times a week for medical appointments or programs.

“You start to get to know the individuals,” Miners said. “If they’re not on a ride for a little while, volunteers or staff will ask, ‘Is there something going on? Are you okay?’ You really do start to care.”

That kind of relationship, Miners said, helps build trust for clients and their families.

In winter, small gestures like warming a blanket before an early-morning pickup can make the service feel less like a ride and more like support from a neighbour.

The mobility service is supported through Ontario Health funding, municipal contributions, Ontario Gas Tax Program funding, ridership fees, donations and community partners.

Those partnerships are essential, Miners said, particularly as the cost of vehicle maintenance continues to rise and the organization looks toward future vehicle replacement. A vehicle-replacement fund has already been started with support from Perth South’s wellness fund, and the service hopes to eventually add another, larger accessible vehicle to replace aging equipment.

“Without that support, our operational levels would be dramatically reduced,” Miners said. “It really wouldn’t be possible without the support of the community around us.”

For Miners, the reason the service matters is simple; rural transportation barriers can quickly become barriers to independence.

If residents want to age at home, remain active or continue choosing what their lives look like, transportation is often one of the most important pieces of that puzzle.

“It may be one of those things you don’t always think about until you need it,” Miners said. “But when you need it, that’s when we’re able to show up and be part of that journey.

“It’s maintaining independence. It’s connection and dignity.”

More information about St. Marys & Area Mobility Service, eligibility, fees and ride bookings is available by calling 519-284-4010 or visiting www.stmarysmobility.com.